Kennedy & Schwarzenegger: don't mess with family

Sen. Ted Kennedy showed some protective family spirit this morning when colleagues tried to rope his niece’s husband, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, into a debate on social security benefits paid to illegal immigrants.

Blasting an amendment that would have restricted the receipt of such benefits, Kennedy said the measure written by Nevada Republican Sen. John Ensign would have required the Social Security Administration delve into the work history of every immigrant to the U.S. – legal and illegal.

“It would have them investigate Henry Kissinger and possibly Tom Tancredo’s parents,’’ Kennedy said, referring to the famously hard-line lawmaker whose parents immigrated from Italy.

``And Schwarzenegger!” another senator in the room chimed in.

``Now you’re getting personal,’’ Kennedy retorted.

The amendment was prevented from coming to the floor, and Ensign opposed the overall bill, helping to lead to the immigration overhaul’s death later in the day.